Eminian: Isringhausen liked what he saw in Chiefs bullpen

PEORIA -- Former St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen -- the organization's career saves leader with 217 -- is now a Cardinals special assistant, and was in Peoria during the week to work with Peoria Chiefs pitchers.

"We want more consistency in the strike zone, and that's what these kids need at this level. They have to show the organization they can throw strikes with all their pitches," Isringhausen said. "Especially at this level. If you're able to do that, you're gonna get people out. When you're out there walking guys, then you're not showing any progression."

Isringhausen is roving around the Cardinals minor-league teams to look at pitchers and essentially project their ceilings.

"I'm here trying to (determnine) who can pitch at AA," he said. "Once you get there, they (Cardinals) can come down and pluck you and you never know what happens then. You could be up there in the majors for 15 years. But you got to get to AA first.

"I try to tell the Cardinals who I think can pitch in AA in a couple years. There's a couple guys (with the Chiefs) with big arms. (Relievers) Chris Perry, and Jhonny Polanco, he (Polanco) is very intriguing, got a breaking ball in progress, got a good changeup."

Isringhausen went on to talk about the mental aspects of back-end bullpen roles, and you can check out a video of his interview at my Cleve's World blog on pjstar.com.

WHITE-KNUCKLE RIDE: The Peoria Chiefs have held down a playoff spot in the Western Division of the Midwest League for virtually the entire first half of the season, so it'll be a real shame if they fade out of the picture in the final days.

But the now-slumping Peoria team will get zero sympathy from Burlington, Quad Cities and Clinton, who have arrived at the Chiefs gates with little more than a week to play.

The Chiefs headed into Saturday action having held a playoff spot for 27 straight games -- going back to May 10 -- and for 48 of the 60 games they've played overall.

Parked in second place, holding the wildcard, the Chiefs are trying to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2009, and the first time in the first half since 2006.

But with 12 losses in 19 games -- and seven of their last eight on the road -- they have opened the door to a scramble for the finish line. And Peoria's remaining strength of schedule is the toughest.

Peoria holds a one-game lead over Quad Cities heading into a three-game series there on Saturday.

Here's how they finish with strength of schedule included at the end:

Peoria (32-28): at QC, at QC, at QC, Kane County, Kane County, Kane County, Clinton, Clinton, Clinton. SoS: .561.

ON TAP NEXT: The Chiefs have ramped up their promotional schedule for the final homestand of the first half, which includes post-game fireworks shows Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday's game: If you have purchased a Doritos Locos at Taco Bell during the prior week, your receipt gets you a free Chiefs ticket when you purchase one box seat.

Wednesday: It's Teacher Appreciation Night, and thousands of area teachers have been emailed an invitation to claim two free tickets to the game. Hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches and sodas are $1, and it's another guaranteed win night. If the Chiefs lose, everyone gets a free ticket to a future Chiefs Monday-Wednesday game.

Thursday: It's a Diamond Dig, literally. The Chiefs will bury five sets of diamond earrings in the Dozer Park infield. Then 150 female spectators will have a chance to find and dig them up.

Friday: The first 1,000 spectators get an Ozzie Smith bobblehead.

Saturday: The 12th annual Legend at the Ballpark features guest appearance by Cardinals great Ozzie Smith, courtesy IPMR.

Smith, the 15-time All-Star, and IPMR have worked out a fee list for autographs. The money raised is tasked for charity, going to the IPMR Foundation. The Chiefs have no say in the autograph prices and the team gets none of that money.

Smith will sign flat items (up to 11-x-13), IPMR posters and baseballs for $75. Large flat items, bobbleheads and equipment are signed for $100; bats, jerseys and jersey numbers are $150.

CHIEFS BRIEFS: When the Chiefs were assigned infielder Robelys Reyes from Cardinals Extended Spring Training this week, it gave Peoria three players with the same last name on the active roster for the first time in franchise history. Reyes, the infielder, joins Chiefs pitchers Arturo Reyes and Alex Reyes. None are related, by the way. ... The Chiefs got one player -- third-round pitcher Mike Meyers -- from the Cardinals 2013 draft last summer. Peoria is hoping for some help out of the 2014 draft, which started Thursday. The Chiefs need pitching and upgrades at third and in the outfield. ... St. Louis took pitching with its first six picks. ... St. Louis took a trio of college seniors among its first 10 picks in the draft, and they could be candidates to show up in Peoria. They include righty starter Andrew Morales, from UC-Irvine, taken at 71 overall with the Cards compensation group B pick. Plus righty starter Daniel Poncedeleon, out of Embry-Riddle University (Fla.), in the 9th round and Stanford starting first baseman Danny Diekroeger in the 10th. The latter can also play third base. Diekroeger played at Stanford with current Chiefs first baseman Justin Ringo. ... The Chiefs are 0-6 in games started by righty Blake McNight, but it sure isn't the pitcher's fault. He's thrown well, but Peoria has supported him with a staff-low 1.7 runs per game. ... Chiefs lefty starter Jimmy Reed has delivered three quality starts in his last 6 outings. He's tossed 35 2/3 innings over that span, with a 2.77 ERA on 25 hits, 11 earned runs, 27 strikeouts and just 5 walks.

Page 3 of 3 - Dave Eminian covers the Chiefs and Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Check out his sports blog, Cleve's World, at pjstar.com and follow him on Tout and Twitter @icetimecleve.